04 Jan 2023
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January 4, 2023

JAMES ROE SIGNS WITH ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT FOR THE 2023 INDY NXT BY FIRESTONE SEASON

Roe rounds out Andretti Autosport’s INDY NXT by Firestone lineup in the No. 29 Topcon Dallara

INDIANAPOLIS (January 4, 2023) – Andretti Autosport announced today that James Roe will join the championship-winning team for the 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone season. Roe will pilot the No. 29 Topcon Andretti Autosport Dallara rounding out Andretti Autosport’s INDY NXT by Firestone lineup.

Hailing from Ireland with a dream of racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500, Roe began his American racing journey in 2018 in the F2000 Championship Series before moving into the FIA Formula Regional Americas Championship and Indy Pro 2000 Championship. The Irish driver recorded numerous wins, pole positions and podium finishes while working his way to INDY NXT. While the 2023 season will be Roe’s first full-time appearance in the INDY NXT by Firestone Series, the 24-year-old made his INDY NXT debut in 2022 competing in the first half of the season.

Topcon Positioning Group, an industry-leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of precision measurement and workflow solutions for the global construction, geospatial and agriculture markets, joins the INDY NXT program after first partnering with Roe in 2019.

The Andretti Autosport INDY NXT camp proved strong in 2022 earning Rookie of the Year honors, second and third in the championship standings and all four drivers securing at least one victory. Andretti Autosport has won championships in each of the Road to Indy development ladder series, having earned three championships in the INDY NXT by Firestone Championship, one in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires (formerly Pro Mazda) and one in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship.

Roe and already confirmed Andretti Autosport teammates Louis Foster, Hunter McElrea and Jamie Chadwick will kick off the 2023 14-race INDY NXT by Firestone season on the Streets of St. Petersburg on March 5.

Michael Andretti, CEO and Chairman, Andretti Autosport:

“It’s great to have our full lineup set and we’re excited to welcome James and Topcon to the Andretti family to round out our 2023 INDY NXT team. He has strong INDY NXT experience to build on and we are looking forward to seeing what he’ll be able to do in his sophomore season.”

 

James Roe, Driver, No. 29 Topcon Andretti Autosport Dallara:

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Andretti Autosport for the 2023 INDY NXT season with Topcon. To join a global team as successful as Andretti Autosport and align myself with their iconic brand is a massive moment for my career, both on and off the racetrack. We’ve put in a tremendous effort to get to this point, and I want to thank Michael Andretti, J-F Thormann and Rob Edwards for the opportunity. I’d also like to thank Topcon for their continued support and I look forward to the challenge that lies ahead. I have full confidence that we have all the right ingredients for success.”

 

Ray O’Connor, President and CEO, Topcon Positioning Systems: 

“James has been and will continue to be an integral part of Topcon. His passion for motorsports has served as an example to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible and to do so with dedication. His partnership with Andretti Autosport brings a lot of excitement to the halls of Topcon and we are looking forward to seeing James compete on track and forging new relationships with those at Andretti Autosport.”

About James Roe Jr.
James Roe is one of Ireland’s top racing drivers. Hailing from the Emerald Isle, but now based in the United States, James has enjoyed success in every series he has competed in to-date. jamesroejr.com

About Topcon Positioning Group 
Topcon Positioning Group, always one step ahead in technology and customer benefits, is an industry leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of precision measurement and workflow solutions for the global construction, geospatial and agriculture markets. Topcon Positioning Group is headquartered in Livermore, California, U.S. (topconpositioning.com, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook). Its European head office is in Capelle a/d IJssel, the Netherlands. Topcon Corporation (topcon.com), founded in 1932, is traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (7732).

10 Oct 2022
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October 10, 2022

Roe Podiums In Monza

Roe Podiums In Monza

James Roe Jr continued to impress in his sports car debut year as he claimed yet another podium for Imperiale Racing at Monza yesterday. The Irishman not only swapped his usual single seater cars for a GT3 Sportscar, but also changed continents too, as he returned to Europe to represent his longtime sponsor Topcon Positioning Group in the Italian GT Championship.

James was consistently in the front pack all through pre-event practise, giving him confidence of another good result at the famous Italian circuit. Qualifying didn’t go to plan though, within the combined time format and plenty of traffic saw the #9 Lamborghini finish the session in 8th place. On race day, weather conditions were horrific with many of the earlier support races having to be postponed or cancelled. As the Italian GT Championship cars lined up though, the rain had stopped. Roe, who was starting the #9 car, made the call to fit slicks as he felt it was going to dry. Despite initially being swamped by the wet tyre grid of cars, and sinking as low as P12, his choice was proven correct as he gradually began to fight back towards the front. By the time he pitted for the first driver change, the #9 car was running in P4. His team mates made no mistakes and another clean pitstop meant they would cross the line third in class for yet another podium in Italy.

James Roe Jr: “Maybe coming from Ireland, I’m more acceptive to the rain than most! I just had a feeling it was going to dry up very fast as I drove to the grid and asked the team for slicks. If I’m honest, I was wondering if I had made the right decision in the early laps, but once the tires got up to temperature and a dry line appeared, the car just came to me. It is great to stand on the podium once again, even better at a circuit like Monza- big thanks to my teammates and Imperiale Racing.”

 

About James Roe Jr.
James Roe is one of Ireland’s top racing drivers. Hailing from the Emerald Isle, but now based in the United States, James has enjoyed success in every series he has competed in to-date. jamesroejr.com

About Topcon Positioning Group 
Topcon Positioning Group, always one step ahead in technology and customer benefits, is an industry leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of precision measurement and workflow solutions for the global construction, geospatial and agriculture markets. Topcon Positioning Group is headquartered in Livermore, California, U.S. (topconpositioning.com, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook). Its European head office is in Capelle a/d IJssel, the Netherlands. Topcon Corporation (topcon.com), founded in 1932, is traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (7732).

06 Oct 2022
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October 6, 2022

Roe Returns to Monza for Italian GT Closer

Roe Podiums In Monza

Having already tasted success in his debut GT season, Ireland’s James Roe Jr returns to the famous Monza circuit this weekend for the final found of the Italian GT Endurance series.
Roe and his longtime commercial partner Topcon Positioning Group once again team up with the Imperiale racing team and James will drive their #9 Lamborghini Huracàn GT3 Evo and will be joined by team mates Sebastian Balthasar (GER) and Riccardo Ponzio (ITA)

James Roe Jr:
“I’m looking foreward to returning to Monza. Our pace has been good this season and I am enjoying the Endurance races- teamwork and strategy are crucial and we will be pushing hard to ensure we have the best of both this weekend.”

Luca Del Grosso (Team Manager):
“The recent round of Vallelunga proved that anything can happen and the Endurance races are never trivial. We know Monza very well, the drivers wish to show their potential, and we have all the ingredients to run a strong weekend. We are aware of our chances, and we know that there is a lot to take into account, some variables are less foreseeable than others, therefore we will work to get the best performance possible and play our best cards. We are resolute to do well and we will try to end the season with a strong result”.
The program of the weekend
Friday, October 7 > Free Practice 13:50
Saturday, October 8 > Free Practice 10:30; Qualifying 17:05
Sunday, October 9 > Race at 14:40

Where to watch the race
ACI Sport TV (Ch 228 SKY)
facebook.com/cigranturismo
www.acisport.it/CIGT
www.motorsport.tv
facebook.com/imperialeracingofficial
facebook.com/acisporttv

More information on Topcon and James Roe is available at topconpositioning.com/james-roe.
About James Roe Jr.
James Roe is one of Ireland’s top racing drivers. Hailing from the Emerald Isle, but now based in the United States, James has enjoyed success in every series he has competed in to-date. jamesroejr.com

About Topcon Positioning Group 
Topcon Positioning Group, always one step ahead in technology and customer benefits, is an industry leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of precision measurement and workflow solutions for the global construction, geospatial and agriculture markets. Topcon Positioning Group is headquartered in Livermore, California, U.S. (topconpositioning.com, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook). Its European head office is in Capelle a/d IJssel, the Netherlands. Topcon Corporation (topcon.com), founded in 1932, is traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (7732).